I'll admit this is more for me than anyone reading it and I doubt it'll be short so few will read all of it. I grew up outside of Manhattan. KSU has been around me my whole life. Both parents and siblings went there. I wanted to play for the Cats more than anything (it was the most important thing in my high school mind) and walked on for a few years. Found a way to get on the field (w/ a little luck) on special teams, earned a letter, learned a lot, and made some life long friends. I owe a lot to the K-State I grew up with, played for, and went to.
Unfortunately, it's not the same place it once was. I've felt it over the last 4-5 years kind of subconsciously but today it was cemented. I fell in love with KSU because of Bill Snyder almost assuredly. He was a winner. Watch his chippy interactions with the press in "Miracle in Manhattan". That's the KSU I loved. Defiantly victorious. It was the same when I played, I was surrounded by unbelievably competitive players and coaches. It was contagious as hell and intoxicating. I was lucky to be a part of it for a short time.
The behavior of the leaders and powers-that-be of late is a disgrace to KSU. I will never wish nor hope for failure but I refuse to dedicate time, energy, or money (whatever little it may be relatively) to a place that doesn't have the same commitment to winning that I fell in love with. There's a lot of questions that I have but despite their answers the truth is clear to me...hiring Klieman was not about winning, it was about satisfying the wants of a select few. Here's a few of the questions:
- Why was the buyout established last year for a 78 year old coach and his staff necessary?
- Was it done with the best interests of the university top of mind?
- Why did Klieman feel the need to address his team on Mon, Dec 3rd that there would be "exernal noise" they would have to overcome, 1 day after Bill announces his retirement?
- How / why did Klieman know and make public that he "thought" K-State had met with 6-7 other candidates then later said he "knew" that K-State had met with 6-7 other candidates at the Colgate post-game presser? This to me, is clear evidence that there was never really a genuine search.
- Why did negotiations with one of or all of Littrell, Brown, and Norvell fall through? Was it because it was mandated that certain assistants and staffers be retained?
- It was stated as fact that Bill was involved in the process directly with ADGT and UPRM. Did that negatively impact our ability to hire the best candidate for the university (not necessarily for interested powers-that-be, Bill included)?
- If ADGT wasn't AD would we hire Klieman?
- If it was mandated that staff be retained in 1988 and that the HC wouldn't have full autonomy of the building his staff would Bill have agreed to that?
- Do you feel that we genuinely hired the best possible candidate as a FBS P5 2-time conference championship team?
- Do you honestly feel that we conducted a comprehensive and exhaustive nationwide search for the best candidates? If so, why weren't any P5 coordinators (outside of BV and JL in the pool)?
Some of this is speculative and some of it is fact. Know that the press has zero incentive to push the envelope to get these answers - understandably so as they have their own and other mouths to feed. I don't know what will come out over the next several weeks and months but I'm 100% convinced that what took place wasn't in the best interest of the university or it's fans. The way this went down has me convinced it was to serve the self-interest of a select few. I know that it's an inconvenient truth - all the fun tailgating, talking about football, etc - but this decision wasn't about winning. The dude does not abide.
Unfortunately, it's not the same place it once was. I've felt it over the last 4-5 years kind of subconsciously but today it was cemented. I fell in love with KSU because of Bill Snyder almost assuredly. He was a winner. Watch his chippy interactions with the press in "Miracle in Manhattan". That's the KSU I loved. Defiantly victorious. It was the same when I played, I was surrounded by unbelievably competitive players and coaches. It was contagious as hell and intoxicating. I was lucky to be a part of it for a short time.
The behavior of the leaders and powers-that-be of late is a disgrace to KSU. I will never wish nor hope for failure but I refuse to dedicate time, energy, or money (whatever little it may be relatively) to a place that doesn't have the same commitment to winning that I fell in love with. There's a lot of questions that I have but despite their answers the truth is clear to me...hiring Klieman was not about winning, it was about satisfying the wants of a select few. Here's a few of the questions:
- Why was the buyout established last year for a 78 year old coach and his staff necessary?
- Was it done with the best interests of the university top of mind?
- Why did Klieman feel the need to address his team on Mon, Dec 3rd that there would be "exernal noise" they would have to overcome, 1 day after Bill announces his retirement?
- How / why did Klieman know and make public that he "thought" K-State had met with 6-7 other candidates then later said he "knew" that K-State had met with 6-7 other candidates at the Colgate post-game presser? This to me, is clear evidence that there was never really a genuine search.
- Why did negotiations with one of or all of Littrell, Brown, and Norvell fall through? Was it because it was mandated that certain assistants and staffers be retained?
- It was stated as fact that Bill was involved in the process directly with ADGT and UPRM. Did that negatively impact our ability to hire the best candidate for the university (not necessarily for interested powers-that-be, Bill included)?
- If ADGT wasn't AD would we hire Klieman?
- If it was mandated that staff be retained in 1988 and that the HC wouldn't have full autonomy of the building his staff would Bill have agreed to that?
- Do you feel that we genuinely hired the best possible candidate as a FBS P5 2-time conference championship team?
- Do you honestly feel that we conducted a comprehensive and exhaustive nationwide search for the best candidates? If so, why weren't any P5 coordinators (outside of BV and JL in the pool)?
Some of this is speculative and some of it is fact. Know that the press has zero incentive to push the envelope to get these answers - understandably so as they have their own and other mouths to feed. I don't know what will come out over the next several weeks and months but I'm 100% convinced that what took place wasn't in the best interest of the university or it's fans. The way this went down has me convinced it was to serve the self-interest of a select few. I know that it's an inconvenient truth - all the fun tailgating, talking about football, etc - but this decision wasn't about winning. The dude does not abide.
